CDC eases rules for dogs crossing the border

Just days before new rules governing traveling into the U.S. with dogs were scheduled to be implemented, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has relaxed the requirements. Previously, dogs would have needed to be a minimum of six-months-old, vaccinated for rabies, micro-chipped with a specific microchip and accompanied by an import form. Particularly problematic was the requirement that the rabies vaccination needed to be a U.S. Department of Agriculture-endorsed certificate.

The newly revised rules require dogs to appear healthy upon arrival, be at least 6 months old, possess a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner for identification. In addition, it must be accompanied by a CDC Dog Import Form (bit.ly/3LD02Lt) completed online and available for inspection.

The import form is simple, asks for basic information from the owner such as name, address, phone number and email address along with a basic description of the dog. It does not appear to require a rabies vaccination. It is reusable for as long as the animal has been in a no- or low-risk country. A form must be filled out for individual dogs. The rules will also apply to American residents who leave the country and then re-enter with their pet.

Whether or not a traveler will ever be asked to show the form is an open question – most CBC officers don’t consider checking dogs for rabies as part of their mandate. However, those traveling by air should be sure to have the dog import form available to show the agent behind the counter at the airport as airlines are more sensitive to government mandates.

The change came when a hue and cry was raised after the rules became better known through media reports. In fact, Canada’s health minister, Mark Holland, held a press conference in Ottawa on July 17 after he became aware of the new regulations. He said he was “quite concerned” about new rules being promulgated by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control (CDC) governing dogs entering the country.

“I think that was a very poorly thought-out bit of business and it’s going to have a huge impact for Americans. I don’t think they gave it much thought when it came to the U.S./Canada border,” he said during a press conference “This came as a big surprise to me. To be frank, when I first heard it, I thought ‘Well, this can’t be serious, they surely must be thinking of an exemption’” to Canada, he added. “I remain hopeful that logic will prevail.”

Following a visit to Washington, Holland said the rules had been relaxed somewhat for Canada. Holland said he had received “very positive indications” that his request for a grace period of a couple of months may be approved but that he had not yet been given confirmation.

“Frankly, I just don’t think this is a good use of border officers’ time. There’s a lot of issues at the border. Whether my Maltese is another Maltese and having a border officer figure that out, I’ve said to [U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra] doesn’t make sense to me,” Holland said.

Local immigration attorney Len Saunders had been making the rounds of various Canadian media outlets who were seeking a local perspective on the issue. Given the fact that both Canada and the U.S. are free of rabies, Saunders scoffed at the need for the new rules. “It’s like the U.S. version of ArriveCan, only for dogs,” he laughed.